Gorilla Trekking
Agandi (hello everyone)

 From the window I can see the tiny wooden boats bobbing on the shimmering lake as the fishermen cast their nets in anticipation of a big catch; the telltale sign that I’m about to land at Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport. Well into my twentieth plus trip to Uganda it’s a country I love to call, my second home. No matter how many times I land on the beautiful Lake Victoria, it always takes my breath away.

Most who visit Uganda spend a few months preparing for such a journey. There’s the search for the right permits, matching accommodation and all the pre-trip preparation. As the time draws closer to the most exciting wildlife encounter Africa has to offer, the anticipation mounts. Then unbeknown to man and his machine, our trip suddenly hangs in the balance, for a plume of volcanic ash (ex Iceland nog-al) puts everything into perspective. With 35 hours to go, no one from the UK or surrounds was going anywhere, let alone Uganda!

As Thursday inched closer, the prospect of departing for Uganda looked slim. By early Wednesday, we had all but conceded ash defeat, with the trip being postponed until it was “safe” to fly. Total dejection, how could this be? How would I explain to so many locals that an ash cloud would delay my return to Bwindi?

Then, miracle of all miracles, by late Wednesday afternoon flights began departing from Heathrow. Could this be true? Confusion reigned amongst the most hardened travel agents, no one knowing who or what would be entitled to fly. A glimmer of hope, my bags moved from the spare room to the lounge, in full view of my front door. Miracles do happen and as I closed my front door on Friday morning, my group having safely departed the UK en route the shimmering lake.

I took a moment and thought to myself:
Be respectful of gorillas because they are a gentle reminder to us that we are part of nature and not above it!

And what a journey we all had. Uganda never disappoints!



Wabale (goodbye)

UGANDA VOLCANIC FACT FILE:
• Straddling the border of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC, the Virungas are not mountain range as such, but a chain of isolated freestanding volcanic cones.
• Sometimes also referred to as the Birunga or Bufumbira Mountains, the chain comprises of six inactive and two active volcanoes, all of which exceed 3000m in altitude.
• Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park straddles the Muhabura Volcano which is part in Uganda and part in Rwanda.
• Mount Nyamuragira in the DRC is the most active volcano on the African mainland and most recently blew its top on the 26th July 2002.
• The 9 strong Nyakagezi Group have been back in Mgahinga (they cross over into Rwanda) since August 2009.



Coming soon: live gorilla footage from Uganda!

GORILLA NEWS:
Two new gorilla groups are currently under habituation. The Kihungye group location is close to the Nkuringo part of the park while the home range of the Oruzogo, is in the Ruhija area.

* All pictures copyright Lisa Marsden